Fairy-tale exhibit adds charming touch to ‘Snow White’ run at Aliw Theater
The exhibit came about after Sven guested in Lisa Macuja Elizalde’s art-advocacy program, Art 2 Art, where they realized that their respective works have similarly been inspired by children’s literature. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
An exhibit that celebrates storytelling through visual arts and ballet is being held in line with Ballet Manila’s performance run of Snow White from December 25 to December 29 at Aliw Theater, Pasay City.
Sven Lim’s meticulously crafted paper sculptures are showcased alongside the fairy-tale characters that inspired them as portrayed by Ballet Manila principal dancers Abigail Oliveiro (Cinderella), Shaira Comeros (Snow White) and Jasmine Pia Dames (Sleeping Beauty) in shows comprising artistic director Lisa Macuja Elizalde’s Princess Trilogy. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
Titled Once Upon a Time: Of Story Books and Fairy Tales, the exhibit at the Aliw Theater Lobby showcases the paper sculptures of visual artist Sven Lim inspired by children’s literature.
The artworks tie in with Ballet Manila artistic director Lisa Macuja Elizalde’s Princess Trilogy which is comprised of her full-length choreographies of Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty which premiered, respectively, in 2016, 2017 and 2020.
Snow White is Ballet Manila’s featured production for its Holiday Cheer Series 2024, with Shaira Comeros in the lead role and Joshua Enciso as her Prince.
Sven Lim, who is also known as “Living Pages,” creates his sculptures using discarded books, musical sheets, damaged comics, magazines and other kinds of paper. The former robotic-arm engineer uses wire to put together three-dimensional structural elements. At the core of his work is the desire to build fanciful realms populated by imaginary characters that appear to emerge from books.
Sven Lim is seen with some of his works featured in the Once Upon a Time exhibit, based on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Snow White and Cinderella.
Featured in the exhibit are seven of Lim’s meticulously crafted sculptures: Be Home at Midnight, Snow White with the Apple, Sleeping Beauty: Before the Fall, Dancing Snow White, Dress-Up Cinderella, and Who Are You? and Alice In Dome, the latter two based on Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland. All artworks are available for sale.
With a shared passion for reading, prima ballerina Lisa Macuja Elizalde has been spinning her own set of stories for Ballet Manila. As a choreographer, her first full-length ballet was based on the popular fairy tale Cinderella where she danced as Fairy Godmother. This was soon followed by the beloved Snow White, and later, by another familiar story, Sleeping Beauty. Unintentionally, thus was born her Princess Trilogy, a series that – through dance – successfully combines romance, humor and the enduring lesson that good triumphs over evil.
Snow White, Ballet Manila’s production for its Holiday Cheer Series 2024, was choreographed by artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde. Photo by G-nie Arambulo
The idea for the exhibit cropped up after Lim guested in Macuja Elizalde’s art-advocacy program Art 2 Art last August, upon an observation of how both their artistic outputs are similarly inspired. Through sculptures and ballets, the two have given a different dimension to childhood stories and have taken them to a thrilling new level for viewers of all ages to appreciate.
Once Upon a Time is curated by Project Art, Inc.
The Snow White cast also includes soloist Stephanie Santiago as the Evil Queen, company artist Marinette Franco as the Evil Witch and principal dancer Romeo Peralta as the Huntsman. The Seven Dwarves are soloist Anselmo Dictado (Happy), company artist Benedict Sabularse (Dopey), company artist Jefferson Balute (Sneezy), company artist Rafael Perez (Bashful), apprentice Juan Angelo De Leon (Doc), apprentice Germaine Dawal (Grumpy) and Project Ballet Futures scholar Angelou Gamayon (Sleepy).
All Snow White shows start at 4 p.m.
